JP2005334564A - Token dispenser - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a token dispenser enabling an easy discovery of an unusual state by protruding a display device provided on the upper part of a front face of the dispenser and enabling a prompt recognition of information on the display from a remote position. <P>SOLUTION: The token dispenser installed adjacent to a slot machine in a game island is provided with a vertical movement mechanism for manually or automatically moving the display device vertically and an opening which the display device moves in and out on the upper part of the front face of a body of the token dispenser. The display device displays a normal state or an unusual state at the position where the display device is protruded from the opening by the vertical movement mechanism. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

The present invention relates to a medal lending machine installed adjacent to a slot machine on amusement islands, and in particular, a vertical movement mechanism that moves a display device up and down manually or automatically on the front upper part of the main body of the medal lending machine, The display device is provided with an opening through which the display device enters and exits, and the display device displays the normal state or the abnormal state at a position where the display device protrudes from the opening by the vertical movement mechanism, so that the display display of the display device can be seen even from a distance. Related to the medal lending machine.

Normally, pachinko parlors have a gaming island in which a plurality of 15 to 20 gaming machines and gaming medium lending machines are arranged adjacently in a straight line (back-to-back lateral direction). If the above game island is a gaming machine (pachinko machine) that plays with pachinko balls, the adjacent gaming media lending machine may be a gaming machine (slot machine) with pachinko ball lending machines installed and games with medals. In this case, a medal lending machine is installed in the adjacent game medium lending machine.

A medal lending machine that pays out a predetermined number of medals in response to the insertion of banknotes is installed at a position on the amusement island (slot machine installation island) of the amusement store.
The medal lending machine is composed of a substantially rectangular main body, and the main body is supplied with a banknote slot for inserting banknotes, a medal payout device for counting and paying out medals stored therein, and supplying paid-out medals. It is composed of a medal payout section (medal payout exit).
Today's medal lending machines are installed adjacent to all slot machines, and in the medal lending section of the medal lending machine, supply medal medals that can be transferred directly to the slot machine tray without using hands. A payout department is provided.

In addition, the main body (front panel) of the medal lending machine is provided with a display device including a lamp that lights up, blinks, and notifies a normal state and an abnormal state of a medal payout device provided inside, for example.
In the state of the medal payout device, when a payout trouble due to biting occurs when paying out, it is notified from lighting to flashing display or from blue lighting to red lighting display. Further, when the amount of medals stored in the medal payout device decreases, a sensor (not shown) detects the medals and notifies the user to request replenishment. Similarly, in the case of a replenishment request, notification is made from lighting to blinking display, or from blue lighting to red lighting display.
The display device of the main body portion of the medal lending machine is provided to prompt the store clerk to notify the display device when a trouble or the like occurs in the main body portion.
For example, the following patent document discloses a configuration in which a normal state and an abnormal state are displayed on a front panel of a main body of a medal lending machine by a display device.

Utility No. 2539440 (Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open No. 2-27291) Japanese Patent No. 2717849 (Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2-310691)

  A power lamp and a warning lamp are provided on the main body (upper front surface) of the medal sand of Patent Document 1 described above, and each lamp has a pattern with a different cycle of color (red, blue), lighting and flashing according to normal and abnormal states. It is configured to display and notify the type of abnormality.

A display unit is provided on the main body (front panel) of the medal lending machine of Patent Document 2.
The display unit (status display means) is for visually displaying the status, and includes an identification lamp (warning lamp) and a code display. In the case of an abnormality, a warning lamp is turned on, and a type display (for example, E5) corresponding to the content of each trouble is notified on the code display. The display unit (identification light) is mounted so as to slightly protrude from the front panel.

However, since the housing of the normal slot machine (front door) is formed so that the vicinity of the stop button in the center is expanded by design etc., the medal lending machine adjacent to the slot machine installed on the game island is As shown in FIG. 1, it is installed at a position slightly lower than the case of the left and right slot machines.
In this way, in the medal lending machine installed at a position somewhat lower than the slot machine casing, the display unit is provided on the main body (front panel) as described above. It became a blind spot, and it was difficult for shop assistants to find it from the far side of the island edge passage, and the response to abnormal conditions was slow. For this reason, it has caused great inconvenience to the player, resulting in a decrease in service. In addition, the situation was difficult to understand even during normal conditions.

Also in each of the above-mentioned patent documents, a display device is provided on the main body (front panel) of the medal lending machine so that it is lit, flashing, etc., but is hidden in the blind spot by the slot machine housing. For this reason, even in the case of an abnormal state, even if a notification is displayed, a distant store clerk is not aware of it and is delayed in recognizing, and thus has a problem that discovery is delayed.

The present invention has been made in view of the above points. By causing the display device provided at the upper front of the medal lending machine to protrude from the opening, it is particularly easy to find an abnormal state, and easily display information even from a distance. We will provide a medal lending machine so that you can quickly see what is going on.

The above purpose is in the medal lending machine installed adjacent to the slot machine on the game island,
The medal lending machine has a vertical movement mechanism for moving the display device up and down manually or automatically and an opening through which the display device enters and exits, and the display device projects from the opening by the vertical movement mechanism. This is achieved by displaying a normal state or an abnormal state at the position.

According to the configuration of the present invention, the upper part of the main body of the medal lending machine includes a vertical movement mechanism that moves the display device up and down manually or automatically, and an opening through which the display device enters and exits. A normal state or an abnormal state can be displayed at a position where the display device is protruded.
Therefore, for example, normal and abnormal states can be protruded upward from the casing of the adjacent slot machine, so that it is more noticeable than ever from a distance. As a result, until now, it was hidden in the blind spot by the slot machine housing, and the discovery was delayed especially in the abnormal state, but the store clerk can easily find the notification display on the display device. By being able to respond quickly, there is less inconvenience to the player. Further, it is possible to grasp the situation with a display device in a normal state protruding upward.

Hereinafter, embodiments shown in the drawings will be described in detail. FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a slot machine and a medal lending machine according to the present invention.

The normal form (known configuration) slot machine shown in FIG. 1 will be described.
The slot machine 1 installed on the amusement island has a medal slot 2 and a game operation unit (a stop button 3 and a start button 4) on the front right side, and a player inserts a medal into the medal slot 2. When the start button 4 is operated, a spinning reel device (not shown) inside the housing 1a rotates, and a game is performed by the player sequentially operating (stopping) the plurality of stop buttons 3. A lower tray 5 for storing medals is provided below the housing 1a. As shown in the figure, the casing 1a of the slot machine 1 is formed so that the vicinity of the stop button 3 at the center is expanded by design. A large medal payout device (not shown) is provided inside the housing 1a in order to smoothly pay out medals to the lower tray 5 depending on the game result.

First, the configuration of the medal lending machine in the normal form (known configuration) will be described.
The medal lending machine 10 is installed adjacent to the slot machine 1 and includes a main body 10a having a substantially rectangular shape with a width of about 100 mm. The main body 10a is inserted into a bill insertion slot 11 ( A bill identifying device 11a) with bill storage, a replenishment door 12 in the center, and a medal payout portion 13 with a feed tackle (medal payout outlet) for paying out medals in the lower front part are provided. A medal payout device 19 for sending out medals is provided inside.
The medal payout device 19 shown in FIG. 8 has a size and depth for storing about 2000 medals. Further, a control unit (not shown) is provided inside, and controls to pay out medals according to the inserted bills. In this way, the medal lending machine 10 is installed adjacent to all of the slot machines 1, and the medal paying-out section 13 provided in the main body 10 a of the medal lending machine 10 is placed on the lower tray 5 of the slot machine 1. Can be transferred directly without using hands.

First, the medal lending machine 10 according to the first embodiment of the present invention will be described.
The medal lending machine 10 shown in FIG. 2 to FIG.
A vertical movement mechanism 17 that manually moves the display device 15 up and down and an opening 10b through which the display device 15 enters and exits are provided in the upper front surface (space) of the main body 10a of the medal lending machine 10. The point is that the normal state or the abnormal state is displayed at the protruded position. It should be noted that the normal state or the abnormal state can be turned on and blinked from the transparent plate 10c even at a position where the display device 15 is not projected (FIG. 2).
Here, the vertical movement mechanism 17 is configured to be performed manually.

2 and 3 show a state in which the display device 15 does not protrude from the opening 10b, and FIGS. 4 and 5 show a state in which the display device 15 protrudes from the upper surface from the opening 10b.
The opening 10b at the upper front is formed in a narrow rectangle. A vertical movement mechanism 17 that moves up and down (slidably) in the vicinity of the opening 10b is provided. For example, the vertical movement mechanism 17 is sandwiched between U-shaped guide pieces 17a at both ends, and the display device 15 moves up and down along the guide pieces 17a.
Therefore, the display device 15 in the lower position (substantially flush with the upper surface) can be pulled out to the upper position and can be held by protruding from the upper surface of the main body 10a. At the time of shipment, the display device 15 is packed at a position that does not protrude from the opening 10b so that the display device 15 is not damaged, and when installed on the game island, the display device 15 is protruded from the opening 10b to the upper surface position by manual operation. Install after the position.
The display device 15 includes a lighting lamp or the like, and is electrically connected to display the lighting lamp, blinking, or display the lighting lamp with various color changes (for example, red, blue, green, yellow, etc.). . Further, an effect display by color change, a service display (informing display for a player), and an abnormality applicable portion of the device may be displayed in different colors.

The operation (operation) of the first embodiment will be described.
Here, since the display device 15 indicating the normal state or the abnormal state can be displayed by projecting upward from the casing 1a of the adjacent slot machine 1, it does not become a blind spot and is more conspicuous than ever even from a distance. It becomes like this. As a result, the discovery at the time of abnormality has been delayed until now, but it becomes easier for the store clerk to find the notification display on the display device 15 and to respond quickly. Further, the situation can be grasped by the display device 15 in a normal state protruding upward. Note that, in the slot machine and the medal lending machine, even if it is illegal, it may be displayed on the protruding display device. Further, the manual up-and-down movement mechanism allows selection (option selection) according to the preference of the game shop. The present invention can be implemented only when it is determined necessary by the amusement store.

Next, the medal lending machine 20 of the second embodiment of the present invention will be described.
A vertical movement mechanism 27 that automatically moves the display device 25 up and down and an opening 20b through which the display device 25 enters and exits are provided on the front upper surface (space) of the main body 20a of the medal lending machine 20. The point is that only the abnormal state is displayed at the protruding position.
In the normal state, the transparent device 10 is turned on and blinked at a position where the display device 25 is not projected. Note that the illustration of the state in which the display device 25 does not protrude is omitted.
Here, the vertical movement mechanism 27 is configured to be performed automatically (drive structure).

6 and 7 show a state in which the display device 25 protrudes from the upper surface from the opening 20b.
An opening 20b is provided in the upper front part of the main body 20a of the medal lending machine 20, and the opening 20b is formed in a narrow rectangle. A vertical movement mechanism 27 that moves up and down (slids when driven by a drive motor) is provided in the vicinity of the opening 20b. For example, the vertical movement mechanism 27 is sandwiched between the front and rear guide pieces 27a, the back guide piece 27a is provided with a meshing member 27b, and is configured to mesh with the drive gear 27d of the drive motor 27e via the transmission gear 27c. As the drive gear 27d of the drive motor 27e rotates forward and backward, the gear and the meshing member 27b transmit, so that the display device 27 is driven up and down along the guide piece 27a. The automatic movement mechanism described here (the drive structure may be a solenoid other than a motor) is not limited.

Therefore, the display device 25 in the lower position at the normal time becomes the upper position when the vertical movement mechanism 27 is driven at the time of the abnormality, and can be stopped and held by protruding from the upper surface of the main body portion 20a. In other words, the vertical movement mechanism 27 driven by the drive motor 27e is controlled to operate only when some trouble or the like occurs in the main body 20a (for example, an output signal when a medal payout device is bitten or a replenishment request is made). To do. At the time of shipment, the display device 25 is packed at a position (a lower position) that does not protrude from the opening 20b so as not to be damaged.
The display device 25 includes a lighting lamp or the like, and is electrically connected so as to display the lighting lamp, blinking, or display the lighting lamp with various color changes (for example, red, blue, green, yellow, etc.). In addition, as display identification by color change, an effect display, a service display (notification display for a player), and an abnormality applicable portion of a device may be displayed in different colors.

The operation (operation) of the second embodiment will be described.
Here, only in the abnormal state, the vertical movement mechanism 27 is controlled to operate according to the abnormal output signal.
Since the display device 25 indicating the abnormal state can be projected and displayed above the casing 1a of the adjacent slot machine 1, it does not become a blind spot and becomes more conspicuous even from a distance. As a result, the discovery at the time of abnormality has been delayed until now, but it becomes easier for the store clerk to find the notification display on the display device 25, and it is possible to respond quickly. In the normal state (normal time), the display device 25 is turned on and blinks from the transparent plate 10c at a position where it does not protrude, so that the situation can be grasped.
In addition, in the slot machine and the medal lending machine, even if it is fraudulent, it may be similarly detected as an abnormality and displayed in a protruding manner.

In the above description, the vertical movement mechanism 27 is driven so that the display device 25 is detected and protruded only in an abnormal state. However, the display device 25 is protruded in either a normal state or an abnormal state. You may make it display by stopping and holding.

In the medal lending machine 10 (20) of the present invention, a medal payout device 19 is provided below the main body 10a (see FIG. 8). The medal payout device 19 is composed of a storage container 19a having a size and depth for storing about 2000 medals, and a payout portion 19b having a disk to be rotated.
The medal payout device 19 pays out according to the amount of the inserted bill.
For example, when a 1000-yen banknote is inserted and identified as a regular banknote by the identification unit, a predetermined number (50) of medals are paid out from the payout unit 19b. When paying out, it is counted by a passage detecting unit (not shown) of the paying-out unit 19b.

A clogging detector 19c is provided near the outlet 19d of the medal payout device 19 of the medal lending machine 10 (20). The clogging detection unit 19c is composed of, for example, a reflection sensor, etc., and detects a trouble caused by the biting occurring in the supply medal payout unit 13 or the payout unit 19b, and accurately counts the number of payouts and outputs the sales. Is.
By the way, when the sales of the medal lending machine 10 are managed by an external organization (third party management organization), the sales of each medal lending machine 10 are connected to each other via a communication line via a relay device and a server management device. Will be sent to.
Up to now, when the clogging is performed at the supply medal payout unit 13, the passage detection unit erroneously counts if the clogging detection unit 19 c is not provided, and the erroneously counted error data is transmitted to the external engine. .
Therefore, as described above, the clogging detection unit 19c is provided in the vicinity of the discharge port 19d of the medal payout device 19, so that when the clogging with the supply tack medal paying unit 13 is clogged, the passage detection unit is stopped to prevent erroneous counting. Thus, erroneously counted error data is not transmitted to an external organization.

The medal lending machine 10 (20) of the present invention described above has been described as banknotes (circulation banknotes), but may be adopted in medal lending machines using IC cards and IC coins other than banknotes, Here, the medal lending machine 10 (20) is configured to include the medal payout device 19 for paying out medals inside the main body, but it is configured so as to pay out directly from the medal payout device in the adjacent slot machine 1. Also included are CR medal lending machines. Moreover, you may employ | adopt not a medal lending machine but the pachinko ball lending machine.
The abnormal state described above has been described as a trouble caused by a medal dispensing device provided in the main body, but in the case of a trouble caused by another device provided in the main body (such as a banknote jam in a banknote identification device with banknote storage), The color may be changed and displayed on the display device.

It is a perspective view which shows the slot machine and medal lending machine of this invention. It is a front view of a medal lending machine of a first embodiment. It is a side view which shows the principal part of a vertical movement mechanism same as the above. It is a medal lending machine of 1st embodiment, and is a front view which shows the state which the display apparatus protruded. It is a side view which shows the principal part of a vertical movement mechanism same as the above. It is a medal lending machine of 2nd embodiment, and is a back perspective view which shows the state which the display apparatus protruded. It is a principal part enlarged view which shows a vertical movement mechanism same as the above. It is a perspective view which shows the medal payout apparatus provided in the main-body part of the medal lending machine.

Explanation of symbols

1 slot machine 10 medal lending machine (first embodiment)
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10a Main body part 10b Opening part 11 Banknote insertion slot 15 Display apparatus 17 Vertical movement mechanism (1st embodiment)
19 medal payout device 20 medal lending machine (second embodiment)
20a body part 20b opening part 21 bill insertion slot 25 display device 27 vertical movement mechanism (second embodiment)

Claims (1)

In the medal lending machine installed adjacent to the slot machine on the amusement island,
The medal lending machine has a vertical movement mechanism for moving the display device up and down manually or automatically and an opening through which the display device enters and exits, and the display device projects from the opening by the vertical movement mechanism. A medal lending machine, characterized in that a normal state or an abnormal state is displayed at the position where it is moved.

Images